High School Drama: Middle Tennessee Christian School's SHELBY JONES

Although she's only a freshman in high school, Shelby Jones (who attends Murfreesboro's Middle Tennessee Christian School) has already amassed an enviable theater resume and established a reputation as one of the finest singers to be found onstage. Anywhere.

Last onstage in Circle Players' production of The Little Mermaid, after roles in The Addams Family and Into the Woods at The Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro, Jones wowed the audience at the 2016 First Night Preview Party with her vocal performance that placed her squarely among the more-experienced, better known singers who entertained at the event.

"I started dance when I was three, but I did my first show when I was seven," she explains. "I'm 15 now, so I've been doing theater for around 12 years."

How did she get her "big break" to launch herself onto the local theater scene? "I think what started it was my uncle would drive around town with me when I was little and we'd just sing songs together. That's what started my love for singing. Then my mom put me in dance and at that company they did cuts from shows and I loved doing that. So when I was old enough I didn't my first show, Jungle Book Jr., at The Center for the Arts. And I fell in love with theater."

For the moment, there's not a show on the immediate horizon for Jones - "I'm taking a break from shows to work on technique by taking voice lessons and dance lessons," she says - you can bet that it won't be long before she's back onstage, dazzling audiences and critics alike with her clarion voice and impressive stage presence.

Today, Shelby Jones helps us usher in a new season of High School Drama, paving the way for other younger actors to be introduced in the coming year...

What is your theatrical goal in life? To be a professional actress in musical theater. (Preferably Broadway) Because I've always loved performing live on stage.

If you could play any role in any show - what would you choose? Elphaba in Wicked because she has the most beautiful songs and I love her character.

What's been your best theatrical experience to date? The Addams Family, because I loved all of the people and I played one of my favorite roles ever, Wednesday Addams.

Who are your favorite actors? Idina Menzel, because she was the original Elphaba; Barbra Streisand, because her voice is so unique; Anne Hathaway, because she is a great actress and has a good voice too; Jessie Muelle,r because I loved her work in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; and Lin Manuel Miranda, because he wrote Hamilton, of course, and he's really funny

What show that you've never seen would you most like to see live, onstage? Fun Home! The music is amazing and it looks amazing.